The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-06-04

truth, For the one thing that marred her perfect happiness, the one hlemish in character otherwise all Symmetri- cal, was the terrible strain of jealousy in his nature. It may have been the proverhial modesty of the true lover, making him feel sense of his own unworthineSS. But. whatever the mo- tive, it seemed to him impossible that he should keep the love of Marina, widely beloved and charming as she was. When he gazed upon her he could not believe that she would not be tickle, armed with the wondrous power her beauty gave her, and it maddened him to think her heart might swerye to another.
 An immediate marriage might have satisfied him of the good faith of Ma rina. but just aftcr the betrothal the death of distant relative threw the Anayas into mourning after the fash ion of the rigorous etiquette of the Spaniaid>, and as soon as they dofied the sable suits of complimentary woc, Lent was on hand. and no one who lays claim to good taste marries in CuareSma. even now, when more lih- eral ideas prevail. How much less rpadily then, W hen all the world was under prie>tly rule. Lent over, Ma rina's father especially requested that the nuptials should be deferred until the arrival from Spain of n favorite brother, uncle of the prospective bride. All these delays were odiouS and even maddening To De Ia Montana. He tormented himself with constant breeding upon them, until the reasons assigned all logical and weighty to the formal precision of the race and generation. seemed to him strained, frivolous and improbable. From such conclusion il required no violent ef- fort of morbid fancy to advance a step farther. and Leonel persuaded himself that Marina was tired of him, that she had never loved him, that she desired to break the bonds ot their be trothal and that all these procrastina- tion> were ominous tokens si9nifying that wish and q means of gradual ap- proach to such a rupture. His jealous passion increased. hattcning upon his misery until the man had almost be rome insane. And the full measure of his own suffering he held to the troubled lips of poor Marina. Every absurd prcteXt was to him theme of complaint and rcproach. He found Il source of grievance in the situation of the Anaya dwelling, on one of the main thoroughtareS, q iaNorite prome- made of the young Spaniards, who nat urally passed thithcr. not the less bc- cause of Marina's beauty. The praises lavishcd upon her annoyed him aS much as if the girl had courted them. IL had come to pas> that every inter view between the lovers resolved itself into bitterness and approaches, and Marina was half wild with distress. She loved Ieoncl most dearly. and she could not doubt thc arlnr nf his love Tor her, as its very intensity was the source of his mad jealousy over the fatal charm of her beauty.
 Al last. one morning. De la Mon tana passed the house and found il closed. His morbid fancy at once pie ;aroa Iiy!! brh:na :hc ii:: :Tc sii;;; ters of the iron barred windows, mak- ing his suit to Marina. perhaps oh saints in heaven winning hi. cause and persuadino her to discard her jeal ous lover. Narrowed by the thought, he was hastcning to knock al the zdg"oa (the great street portab. when wicket in one of the windows Was opened. and hand he knew. Marina hand-wa> put forth. and slightly beckoncd. He approached, and begged to know the ladv's will. For all an swer n white. folded missivc wae held toward him. He took the letter, the window quickly closed. and he could but move away where he could read ease:
 My wor-hipcd Lconcl," the letter ran. "my love iol thee has amounted fairly to worship. since We who love first only al a mature age cuDccntiatc our affections. unirittcrcd away by earlier, slighter lovcs-I have tried then, by every tenderness. to convince thee that thou alone of men art in my heart; but have found thee insensiblc to those assurances. A my blind and simple affection cannot inspire in thee that faith which is essential To welded happiness. and AS my beauty which l therefore hold accurscd-is the ter rible barrier to our perfect under standing. have resolved. not in anger nor revenge. but in sacrifice to your love. to convert that starred, fatal beauty into living horror, that thou mayest no longer ~ec in il temptation to disloyaltv toward thee Naught else can cure my anxiety and distress and do not faltcr. If thou lowest me thus shalt thy trust revive; thou wilt pardon my unsightlines-, and we shall once more be happy. If thy love shall revolt and perish for the horror 1 be- come, losing that tormeniing ioye, fhnu wilt find Ia.ala. aOain 1 Mill ra.